If you've ever scanned your vehicle for issues and come across terms like pending, permanent, or stored trouble codes, you're not alone. These different types of Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) can be confusing, especially if you're trying to figure out whether your car needs service or not.

Let’s break down what each of these DTC statuses actually means — and when you should be concerned.

🔍 What Is a DTC?

A Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) is a code that your vehicle's onboard computer generates when it detects a problem. These codes are part of the OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics) system, which monitors everything from emissions systems to engine performance.

Types of DTC Statuses

✅ Stored (or Active) Codes

• What it means: A stored or active DTC indicates a problem that was detected and logged by the system.

• Symptoms: In many cases, this will trigger your Check Engine Light (CEL).

• What to do: These codes usually need to be addressed right away. A technician can read the code and diagnose the root cause.

⏳ Pending Codes

• What it means: A pending code is a temporary alert that something might be wrong, but the issue hasn’t occurred consistently enough to trigger a full warning.

• How they work: If the system detects the same issue again on a second drive cycle, the code becomes stored or active.

• What to do: Pending codes don’t always require immediate action, but they’re worth monitoring. If it turns into a stored code, that’s your signal to act.

🧠 Permanent Codes

• What it means: A permanent DTC is stored as part of federal emissions regulations. These codes are logged to ensure emissions-related issues are fully resolved.

• Can you erase it? No. Even if you clear your codes manually, permanent codes remain until the car completes a full drive cycle with no faults.

• What to do: If you’ve recently repaired an issue (like a failed hybrid battery), a permanent code may linger for a while. It does not mean the problem is still happening — it just means the vehicle hasn’t yet confirmed that everything is fixed.

⚠️ Why These Statuses Matter

Understanding these differences can help prevent unnecessary worry. For example:

• Seeing a permanent code doesn’t mean a newly installed part is faulty.

• A pending code could simply be a one-time hiccup, like a loose gas cap.

• A stored or active code usually means something needs attention now.

🧰 How to Clear DTCs

• Stored/active and pending codes can typically be cleared using an OBD-II scan tool.

• Permanent codes cannot be cleared manually — they will clear automatically after successful drive cycles that prove the issue is no longer present.

Final Thoughts

If your car is throwing codes and you’re not sure what they mean, don’t panic. Understanding the status of a code is just as important as the code itself. And if you've recently had a repair done, such as a hybrid battery replacement, a lingering permanent code is often just the car's way of finishing its own internal checks.

When in doubt, reach out to a trusted technician to interpret your vehicle’s diagnostic report. The more you know about your vehicle’s language, the better you’ll feel behind the wheel.